Changes Coming to BMO Center

DOWNTOWN ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- It's been four years since 20-million dollars were spent improving the BMO, formerly the MetroCentre. And now it's getting a piece of a four-million dollar grant

Dan Harris has a hard time getting comfortable in his seat at the BMO Harris Bank Center.

"The lower seats could use some upgrading," said Harris. "I mean, myself, I'm 6'5" and I end up with my knees in somebody's back quite a bit. So it would be nice to have a little more room down there in the lower section."

Luckily for Harris, a change in seating may be in the near future for the "Big Orange Box."

"A main priority for us is our lower bowl seating," said BMO Center GM Gordon Kaye. "We're at the point now where our lower bowl seating's thirty years old and it's just in need of some modernization. So I think that that's a priority for us."

The BMO Harris Bank Center is one of three downtown buildings that will receive part of a four million dollar grant from the state. Though no plans are in motion yet, new seats and locker rooms are possible options for the BMO.

Long-time hogs fan Mike Rimkus used to work part-time at the BMO several years back, and says even back then the locker rooms were in pretty bad shape.

"Back then they were just like old," said Rimkus. "I mean, they're outdated. They're a little rough."

But in the end, four million dollars can only go so far.

Other facilities included on that grant are the Coronado Theatre and Davis park. The RAVE board will meet within the next few weeks to come up with a more definitive plan.

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